Trinity Byars Is Finally Back, and the Wave May Have Found Another Star

When San Diego Wave FC signed Trinity Byars in November of 2024, the move was viewed as an investment in the future.

At the time, the former University of Texas star was recovering from a serious knee injury suffered on Sept. 1, 2024, during her final collegiate season. Despite the setback, San Diego still signed Byars to a three-year contract through 2026 with a mutual option for 2027 because the club believed her long-term upside was worth the wait.

Now, after a lengthy rehab process and a carefully managed return, that patience is beginning to pay off.

Byars has appeared in six matches this season, but her recent performances suggest she is quickly becoming one of the most intriguing young attackers in the NWSL. The 23-year-old has scored in back-to-back matches and already has two goals in just 151 minutes played.

More importantly, she looks confident.

Her breakthrough moment came in her first professional start against the Washington Spirit on May 15. Just six minutes into the match, Byars scored her first professional goal with a composed finish into the top corner, helping San Diego secure a statement win over one of the league’s best teams.

Wave head coach Jonas Eidevall praised her finishing ability after the match.

“She’s a phenomenal finisher, one of the best finishers that I’ve seen in the game,” Eidevall said. “When she gets opportunities, she will score a lot of goals.”

A few days later, Byars delivered again.

Against the Houston Dash, she came off the bench and scored a dramatic stoppage-time equalizer to rescue a road point for San Diego. The sequence showcased exactly what makes her dangerous: sharp positioning, quick reactions, and a natural goal-scoring instinct inside the box.

For a player coming off an ACL injury, the most encouraging sign may be how explosive and decisive she already looks in attacking moments.

San Diego has clearly taken a cautious approach with her recovery. Byars logged limited minutes early in the season while gradually building fitness and confidence. That slower process may ultimately benefit both player and club. Rather than rushing her back, the Wave allowed Byars time to fully recover physically and mentally, and she now appears ready to contribute at a high level.

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Before turning professional, Byars established herself as one of the top forwards in college soccer at the University of Texas. She scored 52 career goals for the Longhorns, recorded 17 game-winning goals and five hat tricks, and earned major honors including Big 12 Forward of the Year in 2023 and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2022.

She also represented the United States at multiple youth national team levels, helping the U.S. win gold at the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Women’s Championship.

The talent has never been in question. The biggest uncertainty was simply when she would return to full strength.

Now, after nearly two years away from competitive action, Byars is finally beginning to show why San Diego believed in her so strongly.

The Wave already possess one of the most dangerous attacks in the league, led by players like Dudinha, Lia Godfrey, and Ludmila. If Byars continues progressing at this rate, she could become another major weapon during the second half of the season.

For now, her minutes will likely continue to be managed carefully. But two starts, two goals, and growing confidence are hard to ignore.

After a long road back from injury, Trinity Byars is finally arriving in San Diego, and she looks like a player worth watching closely.